Means for draining catsup bottles

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A PAIR OF BOTTLES FOR THE DRAINAGE OF A THIXOTROPIC FLUID FROM ONE BOTTLE TO ANOTHER, INCLUDING MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID BOTTLES AT THE MOUTHS THEREOF, AND SUPPORTING SAID BOTTLES FOR DRAINAGE   SUCH THAT THE PRINCIPAL AXES OF THE BOTTLES ARE ALIGNED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE HORIZONTAL.

oct' 26, 1971 w. G. INDRUNAS MEANS FOR DRAINING GATSUP BOTTLES FiledOct. 3l, 1969 Aff/Inf.

United States Patent O 3,615,150 MEANS FOR DRAININ G CATSUP BOTTLESWilliam G. Indrunas, 251 E. 32nd St., New York, N.Y. 10016 Filed Oct.31, 1969, Ser. No. 872,846 Int. Cl. B65b 1/06, 3/06; B670 3/00 U.S. Cl.141-375 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relatesgenerally to bottle coupling and supporting devices, and moreparticularly to an apparatus for draining catsup and the like.

In connection with the serving of various liquid condiments and sauces,it is desirable that the bottle at the table be substantially full whenrst served. To this end, it is usual and customary for waiters `andwaitresses to take partially empty bottles and to transfer the contentsto other paritally empty bottles, so that there remain a lesser numberof substantially full bottles. Because of the high viscosity andconsequent slow pouring of these substances, this operation may be slowand time-consuming.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention toprovide structure whereby the contents of one bottle may be convenientlytransferred to another bottle, requiring attention only at the time theoperation is cornmenced, and when completed.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of adevice of the class described, which will support the interconnectedbottles at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal during theperiod of draining, whereby the draining action may be facilitated.

Yet another object herein lies in the provision of devices of thecharacter described which may be manufactured on a large scale atrelatively low cost to permit consequent wide distribution and sale.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the fact that the devicesmay be readily cleaned and maintained in sanitary condition, so thatfood products upon which the condiments are dispensed areuncontaminated.

The objects and feature, as well as other incidental ends andadvantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the followingdisclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which the reference will be made in thespecification, similar reference characters have been employed todesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof as seen from the plane 2 2in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view as seen fromy theplane 3 3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a modification of thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view as seen from theplane 5 5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a similar fragmentary sectional view, corresponding to thatseen in FIG. 5, but showing an alternate form.

FIG. 7 is a similar sectional view showing a further alternate form.

3,615,150 Patented Oct. 26, 1971 FIG. 8 is a side elevational viewshowing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 9 9 in FIG.8.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, comprises broadly: a bottle-supporting element11 and a bottle coupling element 12, this structure being used inconjunction with first and second bottles 13 and 14 of conventional,tapered configuration.

The bottle-supporting element 11 includes a horizontal base member 17,the lower surface 18 of which is adapted to rest upon a table (notshown) or other horizontally disposed supporting surface. The uppersurface 19 mounts a vertically disposed elongated member 20 having apivotal connection at the upper end thereof with an elongated member 22which it adjustably supports at an acute angle with respect to thehorizontal. This adjustable connection includes a bolt and nut 21. Theupper end of the member 22. mounts a bottle-engaging member 23, and thelower end supports a bottle-engaging member 24.

Referring to FIG. 2, the member 23 may be of planar coniiguration, andis provided with a quasi-circular opening 26, the diameter of whichcorresponds to a portion of the tapered neck 27 of the bottle 13. Asbest seen in FIG. 3, the member 24 is of generally similar coniguration, and includes a larger semi-circular opening 29, the diameter ofwhich corresponds to that of the lower cylindrical portion 30 of thebottle 14. From a consideration of FIG. l, it will be apparent that whenthe bottles 13 and 14 are interconnected by the element 12, theengagement of the first bottle 13 within the opening 26 will maintainboth bottles against movement while supported upon the element 11.

In the alternate form of construction shown in FIG. 4, the pivotalportion 21 is substituted by a solid construction forming an integraljoint 32, where a non-disassembleable construction is desired.

The bottle coupling element 12 may be in the form of a resilientlyexpandable sleeve 35, having a lirst end 36 engageable upon the threadedportion 37 of the neck of the bottle 13, and a second end 38 similarlyengageable upon the threaded portion 39 of the neck of the bottle 14.The sleeve may be formed from any suitable synthetic resinous material,such as polyethylene, or any suitable elastomer which may be readilyplaced in a sanitary condition. In the alternate form shown in FIG. 6,the element is in the form of a synthetic resinous molding havingthreads 46 on an internal surface 47 thereof, whereby the por-tions 37yand .39 may be placed in rigid interconnection. A third variation isshown in FIG. 7, in which the element 48 is molded of relatively rigidmaterial, while yet possessing sufficient expandability to permit adegree of engagement with the threads by virtue of a small degree ofdistortion. Optional air vents 49 are provided in this construction.

While the rst embodiment is ideally suited for use in conjunction withconventional catsup bottles having Ia generally cylindrical lowerportion, and a tapered elongated neck portion, other condiments areoften packed in bottles which are substantially cylindrical or thosewhich have a rectangular cross section. In such cases, the rstembodiment cannot be utilized for supporting the bottles in thecondition shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there isillustrated a second embodiment of the invention, generally indicated byreference character 50i, and suitable for use in conjunction withrectangularly conigured first and second bottles 51 and 52. Owing to thepresence of flat side walls 53, and end walls 54, there is no point onsuch bottles which can obtain a suitable engagement with the opening 26of the irst embodiment.

The second embodiment 50 accommodates bottles of such configuration, byproviding support to the lower bottle, rather than the upper bottle, andmaintaining the same with aligned principal axes in substantiallyvertical orientation. In the second embodiment, the structures includesa base Wall l56 mounting a plurality of supporting posts 57, the upperends of which support an upper wall 58 having a rectangular opening 59therein. By positioning the lower bottle 52 within the opening, to restupon the upper surface 60 of the base wall 56, substantially anidentical process may be carried out.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a bottle coupling device for draining catsupf bottles and thelike, from one bottle to another, the improvement comprising: abottle-supporting element including a first member having a lowersurface `adapted to rest upon a fixed horizontal surface, a verticalmember connected to said first member at a lower end thereof, and4having an upper end, an elongated member having a principal axisdisposed at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said firstmember, and supported at a point medially disposed between first andsecond ends thereof; first bottle-engaging means disposed at said firstend thereof, and having an opening therein corresponding in size andconfiguration to the neck of a first bottle, and second bottle-engagingmeans disposed at said second end, whereby upon the interconnection ofsaid first and second bottles at the mouths of each thereof, and saidfirst bottle is engaged upon said first bottle-engaging member, saidinterconnected first and second bottles are maintained in fixedposition, with their principal axes aligned at said acute angle.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including means forinterconnecting said first and second bottles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,230,986 1/1966 Worley 141-3753,261,380 7/1966 Holleman 141--364 HOUSTON S. BELL, JR., PrimaryExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R.

